Tube Amplifiers...???

What do you think about tube amplifiers for audiophile type equipment?

Not sure what else to write, beyond the first sentence.

Do you have any you recommend (which cost less then $5,000 dollars)?

If I could afford it I would .. Coming from a guitar player The sound of tubes just warms and bring out the natural harmonics of sound so much better than transistors.. Proper speakers play a big part as well . My best advice is go to a high end audio store and poke around with your ears

I have been a stagehand/roadie/studio tech. I love the warm, rich sound of tubes. Digital samples, so you miss some higher frequency sounds.

I did a paper in college, yes the band will date me, Guns and Roses....Use your illusion 1 and 2. Vinyl to CD. The sound difference is incredible.

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

For a home stereo system or for live performance/playing?

For the latter, Orange makes pretty good tubes.

sorry, this wont help

I dont find tubes to be any better or worse then my solid state rig just different.

Again, like was being discussed in the other audiophile thread you started I just find too many variables in listening to ever say "only this or only that. "

LIke many things in the audiophile hobby some people will automatically buy into tubes being better without ever having listened to a single thing. Visually sure it looks awesome watching true analog tubes warm up , sure it looks great watching the tubes come to life on the MA252 which is the current McIntosh piece in my rig.

Similar to when I listen to an album I will say this about Tubes..its more of a focused listening experience vs what solid state typically provides.

With all that being said, what are your sources? What's the rest of your rig ? Speakers vs cans? Room size ?

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

A little more info on what you want to do would be nice???

What type of audio?

Guitar playing
Hi Fi Stereo listening
PA system

etc etc etc

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk
For a true and discerning audiophile you’re hard pressed to beat tubes.

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

I got a couple of Marshal stacks here. 70's...

If i recall correctly you delved into the deep cut basement of recording tech..

I have played old amplifiers and current Spider amps connected the computer...


What in Sam hell are you building out there?

Answer below is superior to anything I could say and the guy obviously knows his stuff.

Used or new? and what speakers? ..that is important. For the right speaker, a single ended tube amp is magic, they have the least amount of circuitry, and one tube per channel, they range from 1.5w to 25w, you want speakers around 95db efficiency or higher, especially the lower the wattage. For more power, you go push pull, with multiple tubes per channel, and a more complicated circuit. Those amps, depending on the power tube, usually start around 40w per channel and up.

I lean towards tube in general, but some speakers do better with ss, but I would always run a tube pre amp regardless.

Tube amps I've liked, Audio Research, Rogue Audio, Line Magnetic, of course McIntosh..to name a few. So much out there!

originally posted by: mtnshredder
a reply to: Flyingclaydisk
For a true and discerning audiophile you’re hard pressed to beat tubes.

Do you also believe in the value of 100k interconnects ?

I'm sorry but I couldnt disagree with your statement more because you are basically saying a person that prefers solid state is less true and discerning then someone that rolls tubes all night long.

That isnt the way listening works.

originally posted by: LABTECH767
Answer below is superior to anything I could say and the guy obviously knows his stuff.

Thanks, you had some good points though.

originally posted by: opethPA

originally posted by: mtnshredder
a reply to: Flyingclaydisk
For a true and discerning audiophile you’re hard pressed to beat tubes.

Do you also believe in the value of 100k interconnects ?

I'm sorry but I couldnt disagree with your statement more because you are basically saying a person that prefers solid state is less true and discerning then someone that rolls tubes all night long.

That isnt the way listening works.

They both have their charms! One thing a solid state amp can do better, is control the speaker(woofer), better damping factor = better control of the bass. That isn't to say you can't get enjoyable bass from a tube amp.

originally posted by: Bigburgh
a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

I got a couple of Marshal stacks here. 70's...

If i recall correctly you delved into the deep cut basement of recording tech..

I have played old amplifiers and current Spider amps connected the computer...


What in Sam hell are you building out there?

Let us also remember, if you crank up the volume on the output, you are FUUZZINGLY Distorting the receiving output.

Have you ever been off the range long enough to hear that ONE car blasting the fuzzy bass? Loud is not equal to quality of sound.

You will not get a good sound. And I was born hard of hearing then went to many Van Halen, Megadeth, Metallica, Garth Brooks, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, God Schmacked concerts... maybe enya...

Now that I'M absolutely positive I didn't answer your question. Commence...

I prefer a head set

originally posted by: Bigburgh

originally posted by: Bigburgh
a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

I got a couple of Marshal stacks here. 70's...

If i recall correctly you delved into the deep cut basement of recording tech..

I have played old amplifiers and current Spider amps connected the computer...


What in Sam hell are you building out there?

Let us also remember, if you crank up the volume on the output, you are FUUZZINGLY Distorting the receiving output.

Have you ever been off the range long enough to hear that ONE car blasting the fuzzy bass? Loud is not equal to quality of sound.

You will not get a good sound. And I was born hard of hearing then went to many Van Halen, Megadeth, Metallica, Garth Brooks, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, God Schmacked concerts... maybe enya...

Now that I'M absolutely positive I didn't answer your question. Commence...

I prefer a head set

Talking about distortion..this is where tubes excel, the distortion from a tube amp is even order harmonics, not unpleasing to the ear when driven. SS on the other hand, you get odd order harmonics..that is not pleasant.

Thats just a little technical tidbit, a well designed amp of either persuasion, running within it's capabilities will be nice, more than a few ss amp on my bucket list..Krell, and Pass Labs for instance.

originally posted by: Flyingclaydisk
What do you think about tube amplifiers for audiophile type equipment?

Not sure what else to write, beyond the first sentence.

Do you have any you recommend (which cost less then $5,000 dollars)?

I agree with the Freedomslave there, but I don't think there is a need for a valve amp audio system for play back anymore for instance.... but then it's not so clear as to where you are coming from.

At one time (college) I sold high end audio equipment and was a certified audio consultant. Ended up owning an audiology clinic and taught courses at medical meetings because most physicians are not trained regarding hearing issues. I am very skeptical of the “golden ear” audio hype.

To add a little prospective: Harvard Medical School during the 1893 worlds fair in Chicago tested individuals between 18 and 21 years of age (considered the prime of life) establishing both standards for hearing and vision. This is where both 20/20 vision and zero decibels as the standard came from.

With that said..... I’ve personally tested hundreds of individuals and after 30 years of age, finding people with no hearing loss is more difficult than you would think.

My “audiophile” mentor in college was literally a rocket scientist designing the guidance system for rockets. I visited him a few years later and checked out his $40k plus tube tri-amped sound system. He told me he could hear when his neighbor turned on their washing machine. OK

Listening to his system I was impressed! However, something wasn’t quite right so I went close to the speakers only to discover one of the speakers was working. Get the jest? He could hear when his neighbor turned on their washing machine, but did not know one of his speakers was not working.

Rest my case.... I seriously doubt anyone in a blind study could tell any difference at all. Just a waste of money for people who simply want to believe they have “golden ears.”

Denny

I've been a musician for 46 years and an amp tech specializing in tube amps since the mid 80s. For the most part, solid state hifis and guitar amps sound a bit sterile to me but the good ones can still sound nice. Having said that, there is a warmth to vinyl, tape and tube amplification that cannot be replicated by solid state & digital recording/playback. What you hear at a concert or on CDs/digital formats and what you hear live or from the studio on vinyl are completely different.

If a person can't hear the difference it's not their fault, most people can't. Natural ability and exercised awareness allow some to be able to tell the difference between transformers, tubes and capacitors. I'm not sold on silver speaker wire though. Natural even-order harmonics happen with tubes, odd-order harmonics are more common with solid state. I can run my Fender Bassman (tube with Blackface mods) and my Fender Stage 112SE through the same speaker and you can barely hear the difference in tone on clean, but when you put a little oomph into it there is a big difference. When a tube breaks up it's smooth, when a transistor (even a JFET) breaks up it's more like falling off a cliff.

I freshened an early 60s Pioneer all-tube stereo for a friend that blew away my mid-60s Fisher 200 solid state stereo even through some high-quality RTR speakers. Neither amp are slouches but the tubes just provide a richer sound in my opinion.